Abstract
The purpose of this study was to diagnose nutritional status of vitamin A in female university students. Total of 59 female students in Korea National University of Education, Home Economics Education department were recruited for this study. Retinol and :t major carotenoids in serum($\beta$-carotene, u-carotene, lycopene and lutein) were analyzed by HPLC. The isocratic separation was performed in a $\mu$ Bondapak$^{TM}$ $C_{18}$ stainless steel column with a solvent system of acetonitrile : methanol=85:15. The results of analysis were as follows: The average retinol concentration of 59 female students was 25.9$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$. According to biochemical criteria for the assessment of vitamin A status, 18 of them belong to well-nourished and 6 students belong to adequate status. On the other hand, 8 students, 3 freshmen and 5 sophomore, were in critical vitamin A status. Retinol concentrations of junior and senior students were higher than those of freshmen and sophomore (P＜0.001). The average concentrations of serum $\beta$-carotene, lycopene, and lutein were 1.9, 5.4, and 41.4$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$, respectively. Serum $\beta$-carotene concentration of senior was significant. higher than those of freshman, sophomore and junior(p＜0.001). Lycopene concentration of freshman was significant. lower than those of the other grades and that of senior was sig, higher than those of the other grades(p＜0.05). Lutein concentrations of junior and senior were significant. higher than those of freshman and sophomore(p＜0.001). The serum $\alpha$-carotene concentrations of the students were too low to analyze.e.
